Two days later I’m nonetheless in items. Neck’s aching, ribs harm and I swear my inside organs are scrambled.
That is the enduring hangover from a mere three minutes passengering in Ford’s 1500kW and 4000Nm quad electrical motor Supervan 4.2.
The bloke behind the wheel is as a lot responsible as this bonkers electrical Transit. My pilot is Crimson Bull Racing’s reserve F1 driver Liam Lawson, the younger Kiwi already with 5 Grands Prix beneath his belt after deputising for an injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri final 12 months.
Factor is with F1 drivers, they’ve completely different concepts of what’s potential in the case of late braking, turn-in, driving kerbs, g-forces and quickly coping with life-or-death choices.
However even Lawson – who’s shared F1 tracks with Verstappen, Hamilton, Alonso et al. and actually needs to be on the grid at Albert Park within the Australian Grand Prix this weekend after his super-sub efficiency in 2023 – is laughing like a faculty child after our scorching laps round elements of Adelaide’s previous GP avenue circuit.
“It has F1 ranges of acceleration,” he says of this slab-sided Transit EV, then provides: “I’ve by no means felt something like this.”
Herculean efficiency isn’t unusual with go-fast EVs, however for a contemporary F1 driver to be blown away with one thing’s efficiency is testomony to the surreal heights electrical automobiles are reaching.
Prefer it or not, from Goodwood to Pikes Peak, Mount Panorama to the Nurburgring Nordschleife, EVs are quickly re-writing data.
Final 12 months this Supervan 4.2 gained its class and positioned second general on the Pikes Peak hillclimb, then final month achieved the unofficial tin-top Bathurst lap file, registering a 1m56.3s tour of the long-lasting 6.2km Mount Panorama circuit.
For reference, that was over 10 seconds quicker than Broc Feeney’s Chevy Camaro pole lap for a similar weekend’s Supercars Championship race. Solely Jenson Button in a McLaren F1 automobile has lapped the mountain quicker.
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bath12Hr-24-MH2_1688-1024x576.jpg)
In Pikes Peak spec, the Supervan 4.2 used three electrical motors (one entrance, two rear) to ship 1050kW. For the Aussie runs – together with my experience at Adelaide – 4 electrical motors have been employed for that staggering 1500kW determine.
Nevertheless it’s torque that’s king. The Supervan’s 4000Nm is eight instances that of a Ford Ranger bi-turbo diesel. And you are feeling each a kind of Newton metres when Lawson places his shoe in.
Acceleration? The ton is up in effectively beneath two seconds. That’s your head correctly pinned to the racing seat and the pores and skin of your cheeks sucking again over your tooth.
![Liam Lawson in the Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-15-AMF-Fri-02-11.jpg)
Such forces are solely trumped when Lawson stands on the anchors. Big carbon ceramic brakes hearth into life, backed up by the van’s 600kW regenerative efficiency. There’s your ribs crushed and your head flung ahead such as you’re a rag doll.
The Kiwi prodigy doesn’t thoughts taking loads of kerb on this psychological Supervan, and thru the Adelaide lap’s sole fast nook, this carbon van sticks limpet-like and quickly modifications route regardless of its 1800kg mass.
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20240317-_N3_5231-1024x576.jpg)
It’s a short-ish straight, however Lawson one way or the other manages to search out 240km/h earlier than diving on the brakes as soon as extra. I’m in little question this factor will surge to effectively over 300km/h if the faucets are left open.
Simply take a look at the rear wing on this factor, its huge aero and all of the curves and holes for airflow and downforce. At 240km/h it generates a most 2000kg downforce… roughly twice that of a Le Mans GT3 sportscar.
However dangle on. That is nonetheless an electrical Transit, proper? I ask Ford Australia how a lot of the true van is within the Supervan 4.2. A lot trying away ensues, till it’s determined parts of the windscreen’s dimensions are shared between racer and concrete parcel transporter.
Payload? Let’s say it in all probability gained’t match a Ford E-Transit’s 1611kg, however any deliveries are suree going to get there in file time.
One other sticking level is the Supervan 4.2’s vary. Apparently it’s about 20km when in most assault mode. Intentionally, in fact. That’ll run it as soon as up Pikes Peak earlier than the battery’s exhausted.
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bath12Hr-24-MH2_1697-1024x576.jpg)
It’s a comparatively small 50kW unit (smaller than a primary Tesla Mannequin 3’s) however in fact that retains the van’s weight in examine. It’s racing, in spite of everything.
All of it provides as much as a Transit that challenges your perception in what’s potential from a automobile (or van). This factor mustn’t go this quick, speed up so shockingly, brake this fiercely or stick like glue to a nook apex.
Nevertheless it does. Oh, and I’ve not even instructed you in regards to the noise. Not a lot to report from the electrical motors, however good grief my ears take a pasting from the high-pitched squeals of its entrance and rear mechanical diffs. Think about the loudest , most obnoxious whooshing fired by means of stacked amplifiers at a Megadeth live performance.
The sound echoes across the van’s roomy carbon fibre cockpit, and I bravely attempt to shout on the digicam pointing at my face to report on the expertise. Pointless activity, the decibels are simply too extraordinary.
Result’s I’ve misplaced my voice, my ears are throbbing and my physique’s completely been by means of the wringer.
And it was bloody good.
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bath12Hr-24-MH2_1684-1024x576.jpg)
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![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AMF-Friday-2024-53-1024x576.jpg)
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-15-AMF-Fri-02-12-1024x577.jpg)
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20240317-_N3_5238-1024x576.jpg)
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AMF-Friday-2024-51-1024x576.jpg)
![Ford Supervan 4.2 electric Transit](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/AMF-Friday-2024-57-1024x576.jpg)